JD 318 hard to start

[DY]

My JD 318 was hard to start during last year"s mowing season. It has the Onan engine. Choking it all the way doesn"t help. I had to squirt starting fluid into the carb to get it to start. The plugs were new and the spark seemed ok. Any ideas will be appreciated.

 

[Newfy]

Make sure that the choke plate is actually closing all the way. The choke plate is springloaded so you could move the choke cable what would seem to be fully closed, but only over coming the spring. It is designed like this so that when the engine starts the air movement will start to open the choke so it doesn't flood.

 

[DUMPS]

I too have this problem. I have to choke it and run the starter until the battery almost dies before it starts. It seems like the fuel drains back into the tank. If I run it every day it starts right up.

 

[Dave in MS]

I had the same problem for a while and finally traced it to a bad fuel pump diaphram. I fixed it by installing an electric fuel pump. Cost much less than the stock pump, and has been working flawlessly for 6 years now.

 

[DY]

Dave, That is probably what I'll have to do. Where did you get the electric fuel pump? How did you wire it? Thanks, DY

 

[Cas]

I have worked on quite a few Onan"s in 318"s
and they are getting to the age where the
fuel pump seems to be the problem. On some
of them I put an in line shutoff in the fuel
line. Shutting it off after using seems to prevent the gas from back siphoning.

 

[DY]

Thanks Cas, I'll try that first. DY

 

[Dave in MS]

DY, I got the pump from O'reilley Auto Parts. part # is E8016S. It has two wires, one for a ground and the other I wired into the ignition circuit so it would only be on when the ignition switch was in the on position.
I can post a pic of the installation if you want it. If you get your pump from another supplier, be sure to get one with a low pressure. The one I used is 2.5 tto 4 PSI.

 

[DY]

Thanks Dave, Now I have two possible fixes for my problem. If I have to install the electric pump I'll ask for your photo. DY

 

[DUMPS]

Dave,

Would you please post a photo of the installation of the fuel pump. thanks dumps

 

[Dave in MS]

I will post them as soon as I can figure out where they are. Its been a while so I have to search for the files on an old computer.

 

[Dave in MS]

Here are the pics of the fuel pump. Its hanging from a tab that's already present, but not used.

The solenoid is not part of the installation. It is another project tht I did to eliminate starter solenoid problems.

 

[DUMPS]

Dear Dave in MS.
Could you tell me were to connect the hot wire to. I imagine that it goes somewere on the ignition switch. thanks again for your help. Dumps

 

[Dave in MS]

I spliced it into the orange lead that goes to the hour meter. That lead is only hot when the ignition is on.
I guess one of these days I ought to write up all the mods I've made to this machine since buying it in 1987. Surely, others have had similar problems with electrics etc. and I would be happy to share some ideas.